Chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus



J. R. HAMILTON. CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-16, I916- Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEEISSHEET I 1. R.'HAMILTON.

CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATU S. APPLICATION FILED NOV-16. me.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1,388,998. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

iyz/

UNITED s rAr-Es PATENT OFFICE.

Joann. HAMILTON To all whom it may concern: p

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HA ILTON, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Yonkers, Westchester county, New York, have made certainnew and useful Invention relating to Chemical F ire-ExtinguishingApparatus, of which the following is a specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the same.7

The invention described in this application, which is a partialcontinuation of, that is, contains subject-matter taken from mycopending application, Serial Number 813,372, filed January 21, 1914,relates especially to chemical fire extinguishing apparatus in which thedistributing system which may be of the dry pipe type is under fireemergency conditions supplied with extinguishing liquid by the operationof a connected chemical pressure tank. This tank may be provided withmixing devices comprising a chamber containing sulfuric "acid or otherpressure producing chemical and a connected siphon may be automaticallyoperated to discharge and render effective the chemical through theaction of the fluid pressure changes caused during the emergencyoperation of the system. For this purpose any suitable arrangementofpipes or operating connections may be used communlcating with thedistributing system and the siphon for discharging the acid or otherpressure producing liquid, so as'to automatically operate the siphonwhen one of the automat c sprinkler heads or other extinguishing devicescomes into operation.

i In the accompanying drawings showing 1n tive embodiments of thisinvention Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of the inventionas applied to a dry pipe system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation showing anothcr embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in sectional elevation; and

Fig. 5 shows in sectional elevation another embodiment of the inventionas applied to a wet pipe system.

The distributing system may be of any suitable form and may comprise oneor more supply pipes or risersl and connected distributing pipes, suchas 2, shown in F 1g. 1,

a somewhat diagrammatic way illustra or YONKERS,..NEW YORK. CHEMICALr'IRE-EXT INeUIsHINe APPARATUS.

Specification of LettersPatent. P t t d A 30, 1921 Application filedNovember 16,1916. Serial No. 131,629.

on which any suitabledistributing devices, such as automatic sprinklerheads 3, maybe mounted at various points; Suitable hose connections,such as 5, may be arranged at various parts of the distributing .systemso as to operate connected hoselines when the valves 4: are open. Thedistributing system which is preferably though not necessarily of thedry pipe type, may be connected .in any suitable way with the chemicalpres sure liquid supply tank 8, as for instance, by the depending tankconnection having ifdesired a flaring lower end 7 adjacent the bottom ofthe tank protected by a suitable screen 6. There may also be arranged asuitable equalizing connection or aperture communicating with to takecare of temperature expansion and other slight pressure variations, and.for this purpose the equalizing aperture 23 may be formed adjacent thetop of the tank connection.

The liquid supply tank .8 of any suitable these chemicals may comprisean acid chamber, an acid discharging siphon cooperating. therewith andan air or pressure chamber communicating in any desired way with theacid chamber so as to cause suflicient' pressuredifi'erence underemergency conditions to start the siphon. It is sometimes advantageousto have a removable casing of any suitable construction, such as 21,mounted in the upper portion of the chemical tank to support the acidchamber and allow for its convenient removal forrecharging, etc. Thiscasing may as indicated be secured as by-the bolts 20 to the projectingflange 11 of the tank and may support in any suit-" able waythe acidchamber 15 so as to preferably although not necessarily h ave thenormalacid level considerably above the liquid level in the tank, itbeing of course understoodthat the acid containing portion of able waywith the acid the chamber may be formed oflead or other acid resistingmaterial. The aciddischarging siphon which may be formed'in whole or inpart of similar acid'resisting material may be arranged to cooperate inany suitchamber and tank and may, if desired, be provided with anadmission leg, such as 14, extending considerably above the normal acidlevel in the-acid tank so as to minimize undesirable action by tion oi afoot at least before the acid reaches the top of the siphon. Thedischarge leg of the siphon may be arranged substantially in line withthe acid chamber in any desired way and may with advantagebe arranged tobe removed through the hole in the flange to which the casing issecured. Thisdischarge leg may sometimes though 'not necessarilybe'extended considerably below the liquid level in the tank so that itsdischarge end 22 may extend a foot or two below in some cases, and whenthe extinguishing liquid is discharged from the tank during emergencyconditions the acid discharge tends to increase so as to make theworking pressure increase gradually as is desirable in many cases. Ifdesired the communicating air chamber may be formed in the upper part ofthe removable'casing 21 so as to directly communicate with the acidchamber and be a substantial continuation thereof.

An air connection of any suitable form is also preferably providedbetween the air chamber and the air space in the tank above the liquidtherein. It is also desirable to provide a suitable checkvalvecooperating with the air connection so as to insure the reliablestarting of the siphon action and so as to thereafter insure underemergency conditions a large area passage into the air chamber andpromote the continuation of the siphon action. In order to .minimize thechanceof the siphon action being started by accidental temperatureexpansion or other gradual pressure changes during the normal conditionof the system,.itis also desirable to have a small area compensatingpassage between the air chamber and air space of the tank which may, ifdesired, be combined with the check valve. If desired, the airconnection 17 communicating with the air chamber 9 as shown in Figs. 1and 2 may be arranged within the removable casing21 and may have asuitable check valve, such as 18, arranged adjacent its lower portionfor more convenient cleaning and inspection when the casing is removed,so that when. the emergency'siphon action has been started and thechemically generated pressure increases in the tank this check valve isfree to rise to ward the separated guiding ribsor projections 16 so asto give a large area opening through this air connection into thepressure chamber above the acid, so that the air presrequiring a rise ofa considerable por that this equalizing passage does not interfere. withthe emergency starting of the siphon.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, thechemical pressure tank '8 may contain similar carbonate extinguishingliquid 13 so as to supply the connected riser 1 and other parts of thedistributing system under fire emergency conditions. The chemical mixingdevices may in this instance comprise the casing 24 having the removablecover 25 and secured to the tank above the aperture 29 therein, so thatthe bottom 34 of this casing supports the acid chamber 27 of suitablematerial inert to the sulfuric acid or other pressure producing chemical28 contained in this chamber. The chemical dischargingsiphon 26 may bear-- ranged to cooperate with this acid chamber into which its admissionleg may dip and its discharge leg may extend down through the casingbottom so as to communicate with the chemical tank below, it being insome cases advantageous to have the end of this discharge leg of thesiphon somewhat above the normal level of the carbonate liquid in thetank. The cooperating air chamber may be separately mounted, the airchamber 30 being, if desired, bolted to the tank 8, while it isconnected to the casing 24 by the connection 34 which under fireemergency conditions assists in exerting suflicient unbalanced pressureon the top of the acid or chemical 23 to automatically cause thedischarging action of the siphon. A check valve, such as 32, may bemounted to control the opening between the air chamber and tank so thatunder some conditions this check. valve may rise toward the guide ribsor projections 31 and a pin hole or equalizing pas- 65 may be boltedorotherwise secured to the tank. The acid or chemical chamber 36 may besupported in any convenient way, as for instance, by being mountedwithin this air chamber 35 so that the cooperating discharging siphon 37having its admission leg dipping within the sulfuric acid or other pressure producing chemical 28 may discharge the same into the tank underemergency conditions. To effect this action the discharge endof thesiphon may be formed 'with an enlargement orbell' 38 normally containingliquid and preferably located within the neck 65 so that a reducedannular or'other shaped passage 62 for. the discharge ofrliquid isformed around this bell. Under fire emergency conditions some of thedistributing devices open and allow'the moderate air or other pressureinthe distributing system to escape, quickly so that. the unbalanced airpressure .in the large volume air chamber acts to discharge therefromthe carbonate liquid which may advantageously extend up to about the topof theenlarged discharge end 38 of thegsiphon. In thisway the liquidlevel islowered in the neck 65 so that the liquid within the siphon ,endis left unsupported and acts to suck the chemical 28 u into itsadmission end so that the discharging action of thesiphon is quicklystarted because of the large volume discharge of liquid from its-lowerend. By locating the lower end of this discharge leg of the siphonwithin the small area neck 65 the liquid d escends in thisneck sorapidly, under emergency conditions thatwhenthe acid is discharged tromthe. siphon its lower end is practically or entirely free fromsurrounding liquid so that the clear discharge of the acid can beinsured. This action may be promoted by forming a suitable enlargementorequalizing chamber 41in the distributing system havingits bottomatabout the nor- 'mal liquid level therein when the system is inoperative,so, that under emergency conditions the first flow of liquid fills thischam ber and does not causeduring this time any very great increase ofstatic pressure. a If desired, the slow temperature changes in pressurein the air chamber anddistributing system maybe equalized through asuitable equalizing connection 39 which maybe I provided with thediaphragm 40 formed with the pinhole or reduced equalizingaperture64which isvnot of course suflicient i therein. The air space ofthis priming tank to allow any undesirable or substantial flow underemergency condltions. t -In the illustrative embodlment shownm Fig. 5,the invention is illustrated as applied ;to a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising the, building. This distributing system may Q beconnectedthrough the tank; connection 7 I with a supplementalsupply of.extinguishing liquid such as the chemical pressure tank 8 containingcarbonateextinguishing liquid 13, for instance. The cooperating chemicalmixing devicesmay comprise anjair chamher or dome 42 removablyconnected,.if de-. sired, with a cooperating acid chamber 66,; so thatthe connected reduced area neck 60 may be: removably bolted or otherwiseconnected to the tank 8. The sulfuric acid or other pressure. producingchemical 28 in this acid chamber 66 may be discharged therefrom underfire emergency conditions by the discharging siphon52 which may have itsadmission end dipping, into the liquid adjacent the bottom of this acidchamber while its lower discharge end communicates with the neck withina smallvola ume-enlargement or dischargechamber 59; communicating-withthe tank'so as to form the air space thereof. An equalizing airconnection43 may communicate with the air chamber 42 and have its lowerendcom-j municating with the neck or other adjacentparts of the devicebelowthe normal level of the liquid therein, so that the liquid forms avalve or seal in this pipe and a liquid sealed air equalizing connectionis thus providedwhich is normally closed but which when the mixingdevices come into emer gency operation is automatically, opened to allowfree equalization of the pressures above and below the dischargingsiphon.- Sullicient air pressure is maintained in the air chamber oradjacent parts to normally maintain the distributing liquid ofanysuitable character in the distributing systemand for this purpose asuitable pressure pump or device 51 ma be connected through the air pipe63 and c eck valve 50 with the equalizing air pipes 47, 45 communicatingwith the v air chamber 42 and alsoif desired with the supplementalreduced volume chamber 59. If desired, this air pipe .45 may also serveas an equalizing connection between the chambers 42 and 59 and for thispurpose the pin hole or. other small area equalizing aper- V leakage ofliquid from the system it' nae-.

sirable to have a priming tank 48 preferably of large area connectedwith the chemical tank or communicating neck 60 preferably through theconnection 53 having the rel atively smallarea passage or aperture '49may be connected as by the air pipe 47 with thechamber 59 so that incase of leakage the normal liquid level inthe neck is not substantiallylowered. It is also desirable to form, a suitable chamber, such as 44,communicating with the equalizing air connec-, tion 43 so that when thesystemis filled with liquid or the air pressure applied thereto 1 anyundesirableflow ofliquid up through the pipe43 will tend to pass intothe chamber a l so as to minimize the possibility of this liquidentering the acid chamber 66.

Under fire emergency conditions when one of the sprinkler heads or otherdistributing communicates so that this connection is thus opened andallows the continueddischarge of the siphon until substantiallyall ofthe acid is discharged into the mixing tank below to cause the desiredchemically generated high pressure effecting the continued discharge ofthe operating distributing de vice.

This invention has been described in connection with, a number ofillustrative embodiments, forms, proportions,v parts, arrangement,materials, methods of use and connection, to the details of whichdisclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what isclaimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent isset forthin the appended claims:

1. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices including automatic sprinklerheads, a connected gaseous pressure liquid supply tank charged ,withcar-' bonate extinguishing liquid and cooper ating chemical mixingdevices comprising a cham ber containing a charge of acid pressureproducing chemical, a discharge siphon com-' municating with saidchamber to discharge said chemical nto said tank, an air chambercommunicating with said acld chamber, a

neck normally containing liquid and constituting a passage between saidtank and the discharge end of said siphon, a small volume dischargechamber formed in said neck around the discharge end of said siphon, anequalizing air connection between" said air chamber and said neck belowthe normal liquid level therein and formed with an up wardly extendingchamber above said liquid levelto. constitute a liquid sealed equalizingair connection, a large area priming tank communicating with saidneckand a small area equalizing passage normally open between said airchamber. and the upper part of said neck.

2. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressureliquid supply tankcharged with carbonate extinguishing liquid andcooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a chamber containing acharge of acid pres sure producing chemical, a discharge siphoncommunicating with said chamber to discharge said chemical into saidtank, an air chamber communicating with said acid chamber, a necknormally containing liquid and constituting a passage between said tankand the discharge end of said siphon, an equalizing air connectionbetween said air chamber and said neck below the normal liquid leveltherein to constitute a liquid sealed equalizing air connection, a largearea priming tank communicating with said neck, and a small areaequalizing passage normally open between said air chamber and thedischarge end of said siphon.

3. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet" pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressureliquidisupply tank charged with carbonate extinguishing liquid andcooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a chamber containing acharge of acid.

pressure producing chemical, a discharge siphon communlcating wlth saidchamber to discharge said chemical into said tank, an

air chamber communicating with said acid chamber, a neck normallycontaining liquid and constituting a passage between said tank and thedischarge'end of said siphon to effect the operation of said dischargesiphon when liquid recedes from said'neck during the fire emergencycondition of said apparatus and a small area equalizing passage normallyopen between said air cham-= her and the discharge end of saidsiphon.

4. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising automatic distributing devices, a

connected gaseous pressure tank and cooperatmg chemical mlxing devicescomprislng a chamber containing a charge of pressure producing chemical,a discharge siphon.

communicating with said chamber to discharge said chemical into saidtank, an air with said chemical chamber communicatin chamber,'a necknorma ly containing liquid and constituting a passage between said tankand the discharge end of'said'siphon, a small volume discharge chamberformed in said neck around the discharge end of said siphon, a smallarea equalizing passage normally open between said air chamber and thedischarge end of said siphon, and a fluid pressure device communicatingwith said air chamber to create sufficient pressure therein to normallymaintain liquid in said distributing system. Q Y

5. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising automatie distributing devices, a connected gaseouspressure tank and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising achamber containing a charge of pressure producing chemical, a dischargesiphon communicating with said chamber to discharge said chemical intosaid tank, an air chamber communicating with said chemical chamber, aneck normally containing liquid and constituting a passage between saidtank and the discharge end'o'f said siphon to effect the operation ofsaid discharge siphon when liquid recedes from said neck during the fireemergency condition of said apparatus, a small rea equalizing passagebetween said air chamber and the discharge end of said siphon, and afluid pressure device.

6. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressure tank andcooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a chamber containing acharge of pressure producing chemical, a

discharge siphon communicating with said sage between saidtank chamberto discharge said chemical into said tank, an air chamber communicatingwith said chemical chamber, a neck normally containing liquid andconstituting a pasand the discharge end of said siphon to effect theoperation of said dischar e siphon when liquid recedes from said neckduring the fire emergency condition of said-ap1: aratus,-and an equalizing passage between said air chamber and the discharge end of saidsiphon.

7. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressureliquid supply tank charged with carbonate liquid and cooperatingchemical mixing devices comprising a chamber containing a charge of acidpressure producing chemical, a discharge siphon communicating with. saidchamber to discharge said chemical into said tank, an air chambercommunicating with said acid chamber, a neck normally containing liquidand constituting a passage between'said tank and the discharge end ofsaid siphon, an equalizing air connection between said air chamber andsaid neck below the normal liquid level therein and formed with anupwardly extending chamber above said liquid level to constitute aliquid sealed equalizing air connection, a large area priming tankcommunicating with said neck, a small area equalizing passage normallyopen and communicating with said air chamber, and a fluid pressuredevice communicating with said air chamber to create sufficient pressuretherein to normally maintain liquid in said distributing system.

8. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressuretank charged with carbonliquid and cooperating chemical mixing devicescomprising a chamber containing a charge of acid pressure producingchemical, a discharge siphon communicating with said chamber todischarge said chemical into said tank, an air chamber communi? ratus,and an equalizing cating with said acid chamber, a neck normallycontainingliquid and constituting a passage between said tank and thedischarge end of said siphon, an equalizingair connection between saidair chamber. and said neck below the normal liquid level therein toconstitute a liquid sealed equalizing air connec tion, a small areaequalizing passage nor mally open and. communicating with said airchamber, and a fluid pressure device to create sullicient pressuretherein to normally maintain liquid in said distributing system. '9. Inchemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a wet pipe distributingsystem comprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressure tank chargedwith carbonate liquid and coiiperating chemical mixing devicescomprising a chamber containing a charge of acid pressure producingchemical, a discharge siphon communicating with said chamber todischarge said chemical into said tank, a neck normally containingliquid and constituting a passage between said tank and the dischargeend of said siphon to eiiect the operation of said discharge siphon whenliquid recedes from said neck during the fire emergency condition ofsaid appaair connection between said air chamber and said :neck belowthe normal liquid level therein to constitute a liquid sealed equalizingair'connection.

10. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a connected gaseous pressure tank andcoiiperating chemical mixing devices comprising'a chamber containingacharge of pressureproducing chemical, a siphon discharge devicecommunicating with said chamber to discharge said chemical into saidtank, a neck normally containing liquid and constituting a passagebetween said tank and the discharge end of said siphon discharge device,an equalizing air connection between said air ohamber'and said neckbelow the normal liquid level therein to constitute a'liquid sealedequalizing air connec-' tion, a large areapriming tank and a restrictedpriming passage communicating with said priming tank and said neck.

11. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributin devices, a connected gaseous pres sure ancooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a chamber containing acharge of pressure producing chemical, a discharge device communicatingwith said chamber to discharge said chemical into said tank, a necknormally containing liquid and constituting a passage between said tankand the discharge end of said dischargedevice, a priming tank, and apriming passage communicating with said priming tank and said neck.

1 2, In chemical fire extinguishing appa:

ratus, a distributing system comprising automatic distributing devices,a gaseous pressure liquid supply tank charged with carbonateextinguishing liquid and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprisinga chamber containing a charge of acid pressure producing chemical, adischarge siphon communicating with said chamber and connectionscooperating with said tank and said siphon to automatically start saidsiphon on the emergency action of one of said distributing devices.

13. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising automatic distributing devices, a gaseous pres sure tank andcooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a charge of liquid pres.-sure producing chemical and a cooperating discharge siphon, andconnections cooperating with said tank and said siphon and controlled bythe fluid pressure conditions in said distributing system toautomatically start said siphon on the emergency action of thedistributing devices.

14. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising automatic distributing devices, a liquid supply tank chargedwith extinguishing liquid and cooperating chemical mixing devicescomprising a chamber containing a charge of pressure producing chemical,a discharge siphon communicating with said chamber and connectionscooperating with said tank and said siphon to automatically start saidsiphon on the emergency action of one of said distributing deviceswithout requiring the movement of any rigid element.

15. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising auto matic distributing devices, a gaseous pressure tank andcooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a charge of liquidpressure producing chemical and a cooperating discharge siphon, andconnections cooperating with said tank and said siphon controlled by thefluid pressure conditions in said distributing system to automaticallystart said siphon on the emergency action of one of the distributingdevices without requiring the movement of any rigid mechanical elementin said connections.

16. In chemical fire extinguishin apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a pressure liquid supply tank chargedwith extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemicalmixing devices comprising an acid chamber,

a communicating air pressure chamber, an-

acid discharge siphon communicating with said acid chamber and with saidtank, and aliquid sealed air connection between said air chamber and theair space of said tank.

17. In chemical fire extinguishing. apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a liquid supply tank charged withcarbonate extinguishing liquid and chemical mixing devices cooperatingwith said supply tank and comprising a chemical chamber containing acharge of acid pressure producing chemical and having a normally closedair space above said chemical, a discharge siphoncommunicating with saidchemicalchamber and connections between said system, said tank and saidchamber to automatically start said siphon and discharge said chemicalto said tank on the emergency condition of said system.

18. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a liquid supply tank charged withextinguishing liquid and chemical mixing devices-cooperating with saidsupply tank and comprising a chemical chamber containing a charge ofpressure producing chemical, an air chamber communicating with the spaceabove said chemical, a discharge siphon communicating with said chemicalchamber and connections between said system, said tank and said chamberto automatically start said siphon on the emergeney condition of saidsystem.

JOHN R. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

A. J. R-ICHARDS, IRVING STARK.

